Filmadora readies first slate

Pics include 'Meters,' 'Ventanas,' 'Mexico'

Former Warner Bros. alum Leonardo Zimbron is taking a trip around the world in “250 Meters,” the first in a raft of films from Filmadora Nacional.

The globe-trotting doc, which is being touted at the 26th Guadalajara Film Festival this week, is helmed by Juan Carlos Rulfo (“Those Who Remain”).

Pic tracks a series of reunions between French screenwriter Jean-Claude Carriere (who started his career co-writing Luis Bunuel’s later films, such as “The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie”), his two daughters and former collaborators including Milos Forman, Gerard Depardieu and Claude Chabrol, as he revisits old haunts in New York, Mexico, France, Spain and India.

The 14 million peso ($1.2 million) doc was shot over two years by Filmadora, teaming with partners Marco Polo Constandse and Avelino Rodriguez, Fernando and Billy Rovzar, Alex Garcia at Lemon Films, Simon Bross’ Grado 5 and Daniel Gruener.

Constandse told Daily Variety producers are awaiting word from Cannes; they hope Carriere’s Gallic credentials will get them on the docket at the fest.

Also near completion is Filmadora’s “Ventanas al mar” (Windows to the Sea). Title is the name of the fictional Cozumel hotel where a young Mexican couple and an older Spanish couple meet. Pic, helmed by Jesus Mario Lozano, has a $1.9 million pricetag. Constandse describes the film as an exploration of memories.

Now in post, “Ventanas” should be ready for fests by August, but may hold off until 2012, depending on where Filmadora finds a berth for the pic.

Helmer Mauricio de Valle’s $1.1 million “Follow Me Down,” produced with de Valle’s Bala Pics and lead actor Jose-Maria Torre’s Celeste Films, is a meditation on life and death amid Mexico City’s middle class.

Among projects in the pipeline, Zimbron has accrued about 50% of financing for “Hecho en Mexico” — a biopic of Mexican crooner Jorge Negrete — working with partner Alfredo Felix Diaz.